I have studied a few styles over the years from traditional jiu-jitsu, MT, Kick boxing, Karate, Boxing, BJJ and i recently tried a couple of Aikido classes(I thought I might as well), it was a strange experience as it seemed more about the spiritual aspect than the MA itself. In terms of the actual art itself, i can see how the body movements could be applied but they seemed to roll whenever they were taken down. From my past experience in JJ we threw and did takedowns properly so you got to feel what it was actually like. This might have just been the club i went to but it seemed more of a way of life than anything else. I'm not slating it at all I am just used to more full on training.

Aikido, like any physical skill, can only be learned with practice. No amount of discussion or contemplation will teach your body to move a certain way. Even if you think aikido is a frivolous dance, no one ever learned to dance by talking about dancing.

Also, the world doesn't have complaints about Aikido, it's just us. Aikido will be banking off Seagal's goofy movies for a generation.

The world, at least the martial arts world, does have complaints about aikido. Aikido is on the decline, and that is in part due to a lack of strenuous, challenging training. My first year in aikido, I dropped 30 pounds. It's getting very hard, though, to find an aikido club that offers that kind of workout.

From the videos it would appear Aikido is the art of avoiding being accidentally hit by someone who runs at you and falls over.

I studied Aikido for about a year after getting my black belt in Jujitsu and would say it had very limited application. Some of the moves were similar to a couple found in our Jujitsu syllabus and there were some I feel would work if someone was rushing at you to grab you but that's about it. If someone stands still and throws a jab you are screwed.

Aikido, like any physical skill, can only be learned with practice. No amount of discussion or contemplation will teach your body to move a certain way. Even if you think aikido is a frivolous dance, no one ever learned to dance by talking about dancing.

The world, at least the martial arts world, does have complaints about aikido. Aikido is on the decline, and that is in part due to a lack of strenuous, challenging training. My first year in aikido, I dropped 30 pounds. It's getting very hard, though, to find an aikido club that offers that kind of workout.

Aikido, like any physical skill, can only be learned with practice. No amount of discussion or contemplation will teach your body to move a certain way. Even if you think aikido is a frivolous dance, no one ever learned to dance by talking about dancing.

In fact one thing I have learned from Aikido is how to dance - since I took it up my dancefloor performance has improved exponentially - also, I have found that my heightened Zanshin helps greatly in avoiding and dodging people's flailing arms and legs - those people who never did Aikido of course! Thinking about it, some day I have to come up with some form of Aikidance :)

In fact one thing I have learned from Aikido is how to dance - since I took it up my dancefloor performance has improved exponentially - also, I have found that my heightened Zanshin helps greatly in avoiding and dodging people's flailing arms and legs - those people who never did Aikido of course! Thinking about it, I will have some day to come up with some form of Aikidance :)

Of course I'm not talking about THIS stuff:

Wow, that was cool! I wish I could move like that.

Falling for Judo since 1980

"You are wrong. Why? Because you move like a pregnant yak and talk like a spazzing 'I train UFC' noob." -DCS